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Australian cricket’s governance is to be revolutionised, with each of Australian cricket’s state associations to be asked to approve a reformed and reduced Cricket Australia board structure

Daniel Brettig08-Dec-2011Australian cricket’s governance is to be revolutionised, with each of Australian cricket’s state associations to be asked to approve a reformed and reduced Cricket Australia board structure that removes a century-old imbalance of power to afford equal rights to each of the states.Wally Edwards, CA’s recently appointed chairman, described the looming changes as “the most sweeping in CA’s 105-year history”.”We’ve been trying to do this for a number of years, since I’ve been on the board I think this is our fourth attempt,” Edwards said. “Every other attempt has stumbled on the one-vote scenario, but this time to their credit, Victoria, NSW and South Australia have said they’re happy to give it up.”The bartering between states that used to exist, I’ve been on the board 15 years and when I first joined the board it was a very, very state-based argumentative board, based on state issues. I would say for the last six-seven years that dynamic has disappeared and that the board has been pretty well running as we’d like it to run.”Good decisions are being made and we’re not in crisis as much, we don’t need to do this change but everyone recognises that it is the right way forward for the next 100 years.”Under the terms recommended to the board by David Crawford and Colin Carter’s governance review, the number of directors would be reduced to nine from the present 14. Each of the six states would have no less than one residing director, though appointees would not be permitted to hold any position with a state association.”That was a debated point of course,” Edwards said. “The Crawford-Carter report did discuss the subject, they said we can understand why you might legislate to have one from each state but they preferred to have it open slather and if 10 or nine came from one state then so be it.”But the board felt that in due deference to where we are now from where we’ve been going for 100 years that all states have an association and a management structure, and it was felt because cricket is all over Australia that it was a worthwhile addition to our by-laws to be able to say there will be one residing in each state.”They would just be residing in that state, they wouldn’t be on their state boards, and they could be a high-powered businessman who had never been near the WACA ground.”Directors would be chosen on the basis of their relevant skills, and Crawford and Carter’s report suggested that CA’s chief executive, currently James Sutherland, should be elevated to assume a director’s berth on the board. This means Sutherland will be open to having his tenure terminated by the vote of the states.”As the 10th voting director, it puts the board and management a little closer together, as a director he takes on a lot of the director responsibilities. They [Crawford and Carter] felt it is the best practice in the modern world,” Edwards said.The present structure hands the bulk of board authority to the three “foundation” states New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, each with three directors. Queensland and Western Australia have two, and Tasmania one.Each state will now be required to vote on the measures, and their approval is not a foregone conclusion. In their report, Carter and Crawford noted “a strong, but not unanimous, mood for change throughout Australian cricket”.For his part, Edwards said he was confident the changes would be ratified by the minimum 11-3 majority among the current 14 votes spread around the states, setting in motion their implementation by June 2012. From there the change of board composition would be transitional, with six state-appointed directors serving out their terms over time as a rotation process ultimately has all directors chosen by a nominations committee comprising two state association chairmen, the CA board chairman and one other figure.”Of the 14 votes, 11 have to be cast in favour of the change. These are decisions to be taken by state association boards, so we can’t pre-judge that,” Edwards said. “I’m confident, I believe the will is there. The fact that Victoria, NSW, SA have given up a vote, you can read that is a pretty strong affirmation.”According to a CA statement, the states will be required to respond to the recommendations ahead of a CA board meeting on February 27, which will “consider any constitutional amendments arising from the collective State Associations’ response to today’s governance review report and put that amendment to a specially-convened meeting of CA members as soon as possible after that”.Crawford, the chairman of Foster’s, and Carter, president of the Geelong AFL club, have a history of advocating governance reform in Australian sport. Crawford was the author of the reports that led to the creation of the AFL Commission and more recently the formation of Football Federation Australia.

Stuart Law, the Bangladesh coach, has said he was surprised by the removal of Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh captain

Mohammad Isam08-Sep-2011Stuart Law, the Bangladesh coach, has said he was surprised by the removal of Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh captain. Law, who joined the team in late July, has had a tumultuous start to his tenure with Bangladesh losing the one-off Test and the ODI series in Zimbabwe last month. Law said he was not consulted about the decision to sack Shakib and vice-captain Tamim Iqbal and that it had been taken not just based on the on-field performance of the team in Zimbabwe.”It was a surprise,” he said. “The cricket board has made a decision so we have got to run with it. I was not [consulted] but I was on leave, so I was not contactable at the time. The board has made a decision not just based on events in Zimbabwe but, from what I understand, some other ongoing situations.”The BCB had said there had been reports of indiscipline surrounding Shakib and Tamim which had been part of the reason for their removal. Shakib had always had an uneasy relationship with the board and selectors, having initially refused the captaincy and later questioned team selection more than once. Law, however, said Shakib and Tamim had the support of their team-mates. “I’ve observed that the Bangladesh dressing-room is no different than any other I’ve been involved in. Captain and vice-captain are basically the leaders of the group. They have the respect of the players and they dish out their respect as well.”What you guys have been told and what is being reported is far from the truth about what’s going on inside the dressing room. From what I’ve seen, they are a very disciplined bunch of boys. They enjoy a good time and they’re allowed to. We’re dealing with very young men in that dressing room and they should be given their chance to grow up.”Law also said the performance in Zimbabwe did have positives, since Bangladesh won the last two ODIs, and previously uncapped players Nasir Hossain and Shuvagoto Hom both impressed.”While we didn’t perform well in Zimbabwe, it steadily improved. We unearthed two youngsters who came in and did a great job. There’s a lot of positive things that came out. The feeling has definitely been good.”Bangladesh have not named a new captain yet, and Law believes it could be any one of “six people”. He said whoever the captain was would have the full support of the team and would find having Shakib around to be an advantage. “Cricket teams run themselves. It is the captain who makes the decisions but very rarely will he make it by himself. He’ll consult his players out there. It is great to have a guy like Shakib in your locker for advice in the field. That’s going to be a positive.”

Elton Chigumbura has urged his top order to start delivering as his side look ahead to the daunting task of taking on co-hosts Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Thursday

Osman Samiuddin in Pallekele09-Mar-2011Elton Chigumbura has urged his top order to start delivering as his side look ahead to the daunting task of taking on co-hosts Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Thursday. Zimbabwe have a solitary win from three games – against Canada – to show for their efforts in the tournament so far, and they have been outplayed by both Australia and New Zealand.But captain Chigumbura believes if they can get through the first 15 overs unscathed, his side stands a chance. Zimbabwe stuttered to 57 for 4 in 15 against Australia, 46 for 5 against New Zealand and 73 for 2 against Canada.”We’ve been working on keeping our wickets in the first 15 overs, which we haven’t done,” Chigumbura said. “Our top order has been working on keeping their wickets in hand and to build their innings. Hopefully we do that tomorrow and if we do I am sure we can have a good game.”Zimbabwe have struggled against the pace of Australia and New Zealand, but Sri Lanka bring an entirely different examination with bowlers such as Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan. “It is a big challenge,” Chigumbura said. “Most of their bowlers are matchwinners.”We’ve been watching them play against other teams. If we keep our wickets in hand, I’m sure we can handle them a bit better. But if we lose wickets first up then it’s going to be hard for us to come back in the game.”Elton Chigumbura said Zimbabwe’s top order needed to keep wickets in hand if they had a chance of competing against Sri Lanka in Pallekele•AFPZimbabwe’s own strength has been spin and the reliance on it has been heavy. Of the 125.4 overs bowled by the side in three games, a staggering 101.1 – or over 80% – have been bowled by a variety of spinners. Thirteen of the 15 wickets taken by bowlers have been by spinners, Ray Price, who has opened the bowling during the tournament, and Grame Cremer leading the way with four each.But the surface at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on which New Zealand and Pakistan played on Tuesday helped faster bowlers and wasn’t as responsive to spin as might have been expected.That might, said Chigumbura, force a tinkering of their strategy, but only a tinkering. “I saw the game yesterday and it was assisting seamers and not spinning a lot. I think it will remain the same.”My spinners are more consistent. They are not big turners of the ball so it’s not going to really affect them. It’s just a matter of bowling a good line and length and they have been doing it for a long time. There might be one or two seamers, and we might try to make use of them. But after that we will mainly use our spinners.”Ireland’s win over England over in Group B has pumped hope into the heart of all weaker teams and Chigumbura said the chance of an upset comes down to a question of belief. “Ireland always believed and so do we, obviously, but there might be room to improve. It is down to how much you want it. If you believe you can beat a bigger team, it’s up to every individual to have that same belief.”It gives me motivation when you see other teams who don’t give up and end up winning. That teaches you it isn’t over until it’s over. If we correct our batting I always back my bowlers to defend any score of more than 260, and we’re working on our batting.”

India’s selectors will meet on May 27 in Chennai to pick the squad for the four-Test series in West Indies in June and July

ESPNcricinfo staff26-May-2011India’s selectors will meet on May 27 in Chennai to pick the squad for the Test series in West Indies in June and July. With shoulder injuries likely to rule out the regular openers, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, the primary talking point at the meeting will be their replacements. M Vijay and Parthiv Patel are favourites at the moment to be included in the 16-man squad, ESPNcricinfo has learnt.Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Zaheer Khan, who were all rested from the limited-overs leg of the West Indies tour, are likely to return for the Tests.Vijay has opened for India in Tests, filling in for the regular openers when required. He scored his maiden Test ton against Australia in Bangalore last year. Parthiv has played only one Test since October 2004, but was used as a make-shift ODI opener in South Africa.Yuvraj Singh has also improved his chances of making a Test comeback after his performances in the World Cup, where he scored 362 runs, took 15 wickets, and was the Player of the Tournament. He last played a Test in Sri Lanka in July 2010, after which he was dropped for the series against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.Virat Kohli’s recent form in limited-overs matches is also likely to attract the selectors’ attention. In the previous 12 months Kohli has made 1107 runs in 31 ODIs with three centuries and seven fifties. In IPL 2011, he is only five runs behind his Bangalore team-mate, Chris Gayle, who is the tournament’s top-scorer with 519 runs.Cheteshwar Pujara, who impressed with a half-century on Test debut against Australia and won a berth for the South Africa tour, is also likely to feature in the squad. Pujara sustained a knee injury during the IPL and missed a substantial part of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s campaign, but is understood to have recovered now.Squad (likely): MS Dhoni (captain & wk), M Vijay, Parthiv Patel (wk), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Cheteshwar Pujara, Yuvraj Singh / Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli / S Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth, Munaf Patel / Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav / Jaidev Unadkat, Pragyan Ojha

Cricket Scotland has announced the squad for the upcoming tri-series against Sri Lanka and Ireland, making a couple of changes to the group that swept past Netherlands to complete a 2-0 series win last week

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2011Cricket Scotland has announced the squad for the upcoming tri-series against Sri Lanka and Ireland, making a couple of changes to the group that swept past Netherlands to complete a 2-0 series win last week. Scotland’s first fixture of the tri-series is against Ireland on July 12, followed by a match against Sri Lanka the next day.Alasdair Evans, who bowled 11 wicketless overs in the rain-ruined Intercontinental Cup match against Netherlands and didn’t take part in the limited-overs games, is replaced by Ryan Flannigan, who has recently been in good domestic form, while wicketkeeper Simon Smith also sits out.After an impressive debut in the second ODI against Netherlands, in which he took 4 for 27 to help set up a five-wicket win, 20-year-old seamer Safyaan Sharif retains his place in the squad.”As a squad we are all looking forward to the challenges that Ireland and Sri Lanka will bring,” Scotland coach Pete Steindl said. “We will be looking to improve on our performances from last week and show similar fighting spirits. I feel we have selected a well balanced squad and all the players have been working extremely hard and rightfully earned their place to represent their country”.Scotland squad: Gordon Drummond (captain), Fraser Watts, Ryan Flannigan, Josh Davey, Kyle Coetzer, Neil McCallum, Majid Haq, Gregor Maiden (wk), Richard Berrington, Gordon Goudie, Safyaan Sharif, Preston Mommsen, Calum MacLeod.

Rangers secured, arguably, one of their best-ever transfer deals at Ibrox back in 2017 when they signed striker Alfredo Morelos.

Having gone on to score 113 goals in 224 games, the Colombian has undoubtedly been a critical player for the Gers since his arrival.

Even though he’s only 25 and still has until the summer of 2023 before his deal with Rangers expires, it seems as though the club already have their eye on signing someone that could go on to become an ideal long-term replacement for Morelos.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from A Bola (via Daily Record) Rangers are one of the clubs keeping an eye on the development of Brazil youngster Antony Alves.

Originally from Brazilian side Joinville-SC, the 20-year-old is currently on loan with Portuguese team Arouca.

Their new Morelos?

Despite only starting four of the 17 league games he’s appeared in this season, the attacker has managed to score two goals.

The youngster has also racked up 13 crosses in total and been able to draw 15 fouls, showing how dangerous he can be going forward and what a tricky figure he can be to play against.

The Brazilian has not shirked away from his defensive duties this season either, having won 11 tackles and made seven interceptions.

In addition to this, the £180k-rated starlet has shown how versatile he can be on the pitch by playing in numerous attacking positions throughout his short career so far.

Thus, if the Gers end up selling Morelos anytime soon for the £13m fee that they would reportedly want for him, snapping up Alves as another young south American talent that has a knack for goal could be a great bit of business for them.

However, with the report claiming that FC Basel are also interested in signing the youngster, Rangers could have a challenge on their hands getting him to Ibrox.

If Ross Wilson is able to get the Brazilian to make a move to Scotland, he’ll certainly have some big shoes to fill should Morelos find himself leaving.

Having had a total of 113 shots at goal in the league this season, more than any other player in the SPFL, any player would find it hard to immediately replace Rangers’ prolific striker.

In other news: Sources: Shock Rangers transfer claim emerges that will leave Wilson excited…

The series has been decided with two matches to spare but both teams have the World Cup to prepare for so they remain valuable outings

The Preview by Andrew McGlashan in Sydney01-Feb-2011Match FactsFebruary 2, Sydney
Start time 14.20 (0320 GMT)Brett Lee has been Australia’s stand-out bowler during the one-dayers•Getty ImagesThe Big PictureThe series has been decided with two matches to spare but both teams have the World Cup to prepare for so they remain valuable outings. Australia are desperate to convert their advantage into a 6-1 drubbing, while England have two aims in the final week of a three-month tour: get their batsmen back into form and avoid any more injuries.Apart from Jonathan Trott the visiting batsmen have been disappointing in this series and with a major tournament around the corner it’s not a good time to have a serious slump. Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan should form a strong middle order but all have found ways to throw their wickets away. Then there’s Paul Collingwood, who is in the side for his bowling rather than his batting.Australia are ticking over nicely as they prepare their attempt at a fourth consecutive World Cup title. Brett Lee has led the attack impressively, while the batsmen have managed to put enough runs on the board without ever being entirely convincing. Australia’s ideal scenario would be to produce an all-round display where the batting and bowling fires together.Michael Clarke made a welcome half-century at the Gabba, having been welcomed by boos from the home support, but Shaun Marsh is out with a hamstring injury, which could make him a doubtful replacement if Mike Hussey doesn’t recover in time for the World Cup.Form guide(most recent first)
Australia WLWWW
England LWLLLWatch out for…Cameron White has threatened a couple of significant innings in this series without converting so has plenty of motivation remaining. “I’m a bit disappointed with the way it’s gone so far,” he said. “I’ve had a couple of starts and feel as though I’m batting well, I just haven’t got the big score.” With Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey aiming to returning it will be a tight fit to play all the batsmen so it’s important for White to make his mark.To be a healthy England quick at the moment is quite a feat and if Chris Woakes avoids the current injury curse he could yet find himself at the World Cup. His 6 for 45 in Brisbane, England’s second-best figures in ODIs, enhanced his growing reputation after he earned his initial selection due to Stuart Broad’s lay-off. The seriousness of Ajmal Shahzad’s hamstring problem isn’t yet known, but time is tight before the team leaves for the subcontinent and Woakes has staked his claim.Team newsCallum Ferguson has been drafted in as cover for Shaun Marsh, but with the series decided it could be a good chance to give Tim Paine a game before the World Cup. Another spin option is always useful in Sydney so Xavier Doherty may return, while Shaun Tait needs some cricket before heading to India, so another quick could be rested.Australia (probable) 1 Shane Watson, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Tim Paine, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Cameron White, 6 David Hussey, 7 Steve Smith, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Xavier Doherty, 10 Brett Lee, 11 Shaun Tait.Shahzad has a hamstring injury and Chris Tremlett a side strain so, with Liam Plunkett still zig-zagging his way from West Indies, it would seem wise to give James Tredwell a match. Another option is for one of the struggling batsmen to miss out and Luke Wright to get a turn.England (probable) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Matt Prior (wk), 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Paul Collingwood, 8 James Tredwell, 9 Chris Woakes, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn.Stats and trivia Chris Woakes’ 6 for 45 were also his best figures in all List A cricket Brett Lee has dismissed Matt Prior in three of his four innings this series and four times in his career, the most by any bowlerQuotes”We probably haven’t played our best. We’ve done well in different aspects but never really combined the bat and ball together. That’s why they are two important games because leading into the World Cup you have to be at your best.”
“We’ve played outstandingly well in one-day cricket for two years now so we’re disappointed to lose the series but have a lot to look forward to with these two games and the World Cup.”
Luke Wright

Junaid Khan came good for the Pakistanis, claiming four wickets, as the two-day tour game in Bulawayo ended in a draw

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Aug-2011
Scorecard
Junaid Khan came good for the Pakistanis, claiming four wickets, as the two-day tour game in Bulawayo ended in a draw. The Zimbabwe XI managed only a three-run first innings lead after a lower-order collapse, following which the Pakistanis put on 72 for 1 in 24 overs before the match ended.Resuming on 30 for no loss, the Zimbabwe XI were jolted early by left-armer Junaid who trapped both Tino Mawoyo and Regis Chakabva lbw, the latter for a duck. Greg Lamb managed to provide overnight batsman Chamu Chibhabha – who top scored with 70 – with a bit of support and the pair put on 71. But legspinner Yasir Shah dismissed both in quick succession, Zimbabwe XI faltering at 132 for 4. Another period of brief resistance was followed by a slide, as the hosts lost their last six wickets for 43 runs. Offspinner Saeed Ajmal also picked up two wickets for the Pakistanis in a tidy spell.Mohammad Hafeez was positive when his side came out to bat, stroking 39 off 48 balls before succumbing to the left-arm spin of Cephas Zhuwao. Taufeeq Umar and Misbah-ul-Haq then safely negotiated till the end of play.Pakistan take on Zimbabwe in a lone Test from September 1 in Bulawayo.

Canterbury Wizards have snapped up Netherlands allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate for New Zealand’s domestic Twenty20 competition in the coming season

Cricinfo staff14-Sep-2010Netherlands allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate is fast becoming a globe-trotting Twenty20 freelancer. Shortly after he signed with Tasmania for the Big Bash in 2010-11, Canterbury Wizards have also snapped him up for New Zealand’s domestic Twenty20 competition in the coming season.”Ryan is not a name signing as such, but he is a player Bob Carter [Canterbury’s coach] identified early on who had the skill set we are looking for,” Canterbury’s chief executive, Lee Germon, said. “It fitted in quite nicely as Tasmania were also talking to Ryan the same time we were, and we have worked out an arrangement where he can play for both.”Ten Doeschate has been an effective allrounder for English county, Essex, and is likely to bat in the top order and bowl four overs of medium pace for Canterbury. He led the batting averages for Essex in the Friends Provident t20 this year, making 296 runs in six matches at an average of 59.20. He also had the best economy-rate for his side, conceding 6.81 runs an over, though he bowled only 11 overs.Canterbury are also keen on signing Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait as their second Twenty20 import and are awaiting final clearance from Cricket Australia. “[2011] Being a World Cup year Cricket Australia will have a big say on how he [Tait] is to be managed,” Germon said. “”If he [Tait] could only play one or two games [for Canterbury] then we might have to look around for another import.”New Zealand domestic sides are allowed to field only two overseas players in their Twenty20 domestic competition, but there is no limit on how many can be on the team’s roster.

Newcastle United moved 12 points clear of the bottom three in the Premier League with a dramatic win against Leicester on Sunday.

Bruno Guimaraes’ last-minute winner sealed the three points for the Toon as his double turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win for Eddie Howe.

They are now all but safe from relegation as they have given themselves a huge gap to the bottom three with six games left to play.

This means that Howe can begin to plot what he wants to do in the transfer market this summer in order to push on in 2022/23 to compete higher up in the table instead of battling against the drop.

One player who has recently been touted with the Magpies is RC Lens central midfielder Seko Fofana as PIF look to bolster the club’s options in the middle of the park.

Imagine him & Wilson

Newcastle must secure a deal to sign the Ivorian because he can form a dream partnership with Callum Wilson in black and white next term.

Fofana, who is reportedly valued at £25m, has shown off his attacking quality in Ligue 1 this season and the prospect of him and Wilson linking up with each other through the middle of the pitch is an exciting one.

Journalist Said Amdaa recently lauded the gem. He Tweeted: “Seko Fofana. Unplayable in midfield with monster activity. Recoverer/scorer. Very reliable, the captain did not miss any match with Lens. His absence from the CAN with the (Ivory Coast) cost him 1st place for this title of best AFRICAN player in L1.”

In Ligue 1, he has scored seven goals and created 1.1 chances per match for Lens, whilst also completing 1.9 dribbles per game. This shows that he has the ability to break forward from midfield to make things happen in the final third and

Wilson, meanwhile, is Newcastle’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with six goals to his name in just 14 appearances. This is after he managed 12 goals and five assists in 23 starts in 2020/21 for the Toon, showing that he can be a deadly option at this level.

Now, imagine Fofana playing as a number eight or as a 10 behind Wilson up front with both of the breaking forward on the counter-attack to punish teams next season. They have both proven that they are dangerous in the final third and teams will surely be worried about facing the Magpies if they have that level of firepower in their XI.

AND in other news, NUFC could finally axe shocking £80k-p/w flop with “insane” £40m “star in the making”…